国际英语新闻:Senior Palestinian official urges U.S. to declare support for two-state solution, ending set

RAMALLAH, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian official on Sunday urged the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump to declare its support for the two-state solution and ending Israeli settlement expansion.

Saeb Erekat, secretary general of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee, told Xinhua in an interview that, as a sponsor of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the Trump administration should do so like successive U.S. administrations did before.

He said the Palestinian side has affirmed in all meetings with U.S. officials since Trump took office in January that "the only option for peacemaking is to end the Israeli occupation and establish the state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital on the 1967 borders."

Erekat stressed that any U.S. initiative for peace "must be consistent with the resolutions of international legitimacy and the terms of reference of the peace process and international law."

When asked about the upcoming visit to the region by U.S. envoys, including White House adviser Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, and Jason Greenblatt, Erekat said he wished the upcoming meetings "should make a breakthrough."

"The ball is now in the court of Israel and the United States," Erekat said.

He pointed out that the Palestinians' position has been clear and consistent, that is, if the U.S. administration is really interested in peace, it must come with a clear vision and adopt mechanisms to implement as agreed with previous U.S. administrations.

Erekat said that the Palestinian side has presented all what necessary to the U.S. to reach the two-state solution, and is ready to continue consultations and meetings with Arab nations to coordinate their position on the peace process.

The peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians ended in March 2014 after nine months of U.S.-sponsored talks failed to make progress to resolve the decades-long conflict.